The true story of a lost era.
This documentary captures the sounds and images of a nearly forgotten era in film history when African American filmmakers and studios created “race movies” exclusively for black audiences. The best of these films attempted to counter the demeaning stereotypes of black Americans prevalent in the popular culture of the day. About 500 films were produced, yet only about 100 still exist. Filmmaking pioneers like Oscar Micheaux, the Noble brothers, and Spencer Williams, Jr. left a lasting influence on black filmmakers, and inspired generations of audiences who finally saw their own lives reflected on the silver screen.
Brad Osborne
Writer, Director
Lawrence Varnado
Narrator
Herb Jeffries
Himself
Ruby Dee
Herself
Jeni Le Gon
Herself
Leroy Collins
Himself
Pearl Bowser
Herself
The Celluloid Closet72%
Room 23761%
Cameraperson67%
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound69%
I Am Not Your Negro77%
Hitchcock/Truffaut72%
Sidney70%
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies64%
The Skywalker Legacy78%
This Changes Everything62%
Attack of the Hollywood Clichés!60%
Being James Bond77%
Disclosure78%
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return67%
The Walking Dead: The Return73%
13th78%
In the Realms of the Unreal71%
Spielberg75%
That's Entertainment!73%
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story75%
